Automatic wood-turning lathe



F. H. M LAIN July 8 1924.

AUTOMATIC WOOD TURNING LATHE Filed Feb. 17. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Inveniw 1,500,250 F. H. MGLAIN AUTOMATIC woon TURNING LATHE I Fild Feb.17. 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 8 1924 MwN w It e W v w we W M I o f fNWNI mw we Dc QQ NQ Bk July 8, 1924.-

v F H. M LAIN AUTOMATIC WOOD TURNING LATHE Filed Feb. 1'7. 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 3 .4 l'll l- July 8 1924.

F. H. M LAIN QUTOMATIC WOOD TURNING LATHE Filed Feb. 1'7 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 4 I i menial: g MOWQW July 8, 1924.

6 Sheet Filed Feb. 17.

Int/812101:

July 8, 1924. 1,500,250

F. H. M LAIN AUTOMATIC WOOD TURNING LATHE Filed Feb. 17. 1923 eSheets-Sheet e Patented July 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,500,250 P ATENT OFFICE;

FRANK H. MGIIAIN, OF PORTLA ND', MAINE, ASSIGINO-R TO THE MGLAIN C).,PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC woon'runnine LATHE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. MGLAIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Automatic WVood- Turning Lathes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to new and novel 10 features incorporated in theconstruction of wood-turning lathes which are used in the manufacture ofwooden articles of various shapes, such as handles, pill boxes, mailingcases, containers and other Wooden devices adapted to be produced by; aturning process.

There are now on the market semi-automatic machines for doing this classof work. These machines are constructed with a longitudinally movableheadstock carrying a solid chuck-spindle, and'with a stationary carriageequipped with turning and drill-' ing tools. In operating thesemachines, or lathes, a short bolt of wood, usually square 5 in crosssection, is first placed by the workman between the centering device, onthe carriage, and the chuck. As the headstock is pulled along the bed ofthe lathe through the agency of a rack feed it forces the bolt forwardpast a rough-turning tool, which is mounted on the carriage, and reducesthe end of the bolt to a round dowel of a size sufficient to snugly fita guide ring, usually called by wood-workers adie, which is also afixture on the carriage. This turned end projects through and beyond theguide ring approximately the length of one of the handles or otherpieces to be finished.

The finish-turning knives then act on this 4 projecting portion,complete the turning op eration, and an independent cutting-off toolsevers the finished piece'from the remainder of the bolt. After the nextcycle of the, feed mechanism occursthe turning operation is repeated onanother short end which is fed forward past theguide ring, until finallythe whole bolt is turned into finished pieces, with the exception of thebut-t end left in the chuck."

The fact that the spindle is running con tinuously, and at a high speed,makes the operation of placing these square bolts in the chuck attendantwith considerable danger to the workman. Turnin the end of the bolt to adowel form and of just the proper diameter toaccurately fit the guidering, upon-which fit principally depends the support of the dowel duringthe. finisl n' turning operation, is another difficulty encountered. Ifthis'fit happens to be too ters, it, results. .Then in these lathes, aseach individual bolt has to .be placed singly thechnck', a considerableloss of time 0c,-

cnrs in the feeding arrangement.

In the invention herewith presented I employ several, which I. believeto be new and novel as well as superior, features in the construction ofa'wood-turning lathe designed to handle the variety of work hereinbeforementioned, with each operation on the stock, including the feeding of.same to the chuck, effected by solely automatic means.

A- detailed description will be given in the following pagesof thisspecification of all the parts embodied in my invention, but I willherepointout, in a general way, a few of the characteristic features,and leave for the appended claims a more specific treatment of all thatis new and novel pertaining thereto.

In the first place I would callattention to the manner in which thedowels, are fed into the lathe,starting with a continuous light frictionfeed; which brings the dowel up to the heavy friction feed mechanisnnthelatter intermittent in its action. Next my method of feeding thedowel'through the chuck-carrying spindle by which I save considerabletime in placing the dowel where itcan be acted. upon by the cuttingtools. Then by locating the cutting tools incloseproximity to thechuckthe work is much more rigidly held against, the action of these toolsthan .is the case where the turning isfldone on the dowel end projectingout from a guide ring in which, the dowel may not be properly fitted.'Also,,'in connection with the powerful frictional feed ,mechanism, Iwould mention the automatic stop action. which does, away with theexpense and trouble of cutting a special rack for every different lengthof finish-turned piece being manufactured, and which 'ican; be easilyand'quickly adjusted to the minutest variation "in length of theladen-findlastly, the designs of the roughing and finishing toolfixtures in which I have incorporated many advantageousmovements,especially the straight line cut of the roughing tool and thecompound (shear and slide) out of the finishing tool.

In the drawings accompanying this speci fication, Fig. 1 is a plan Viewof the lathe and feeding mechanism; Fig. 2is a side elevation of thesame; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through 'the' .lieadstock,spindle and attached parts, taken on line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a faceview of the chuck-closing piston, and Fig. 5 is a side view of same;Fig. 6 is a'fragmentary view of the chuck-closing piston and the pistonactuating disc, showing the helical-form faces in contact; Fig. 6 is aface view of the piston-actuating disc, showing the arm by which it isoperated; Fig. 7 is a section through the lathe bed, taken on line 77,Fig. 1, and shows a side elevation, partly in section, of theroughing-tool fixture, together with a full side elevation of the finishing-tool fixture; Fig. 8 is a section through a portion of theroughing-tool fixture, taken on line 8-8, Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectionalelevation of the (cross-wise of the fixture) finishing-tool fixture,taken on line 99, Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a section through the tool holderand the top portion of the slide of'the roughing-tool fixture, taken online 1010, Fig. 7 Fig. 11 is a section through the tool holder of thefinishing-tool fixture, taken on line 11-11, Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is ahorizontal section through finishing-tool fixture slide and saddle,taken on line 1212, Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a section through the bed, takenon line 1313, Fig; 2, and shows the cams which actuate the roughing andfinishing-tool fixtures; Fig. 14 is a section through roughing-toolfixture cam, taken on line let-14, Fig. 13; Fig. 15 represents a planView of the dowel feed-stop mechanism, and Fig. 16 is a side elevationof the same; Fig. 17 is an end view of that portion of the mechanism asviewed from line 1717, Fig. 16, and Fig. 18 is that portion seen fromline 1818, Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the cutting-off tool,and Fig. 20 an end elevation of the same; Fig. 21 is an end elevation ofthe 'main feed mechanism; Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the main feedmechanism; Fig. 23 is a plan view of the idle wheel and oscillatinglever which carries the wheel; Fig. 24: is a sectional elevation throughthe tailstock and bed, taken on line 24--24, Fig. 2; Fig. 25 shows theupper por tion of the tailstock, in section, and the pin ion whichactuates the tailstock spindle removed from its seat; Fig. 26 is ahorizontal section through the bed, taken on line 2626, Fig. 2, andshows a plan view of the tailstock spindle actuating cam and itsconnectmg parts, and Fig. 271s a side elevation, partly in section, ofthe primary, or light friction feed mechanism, sectionbeing taken online 2727, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views inthe drawings.

1 represents the bed of the lathe, which is supported on the legs 2, 2.3 is a floor counter-shaft to which power from any suitable source maybe supplied. Belting from the cone-pulley 4;, 'on this counter, power istransmitted by a belt to the lathe countershaft 5 by and through theagency of the cone-pulley 6. Aclutch 7 is provided in case the feed isrequired to be out off from the lathe.

On the end of the shaft 5 is a pinion 8 meshing with a gear 9 rigidlysecured to the cam-shaft 10, which latter extends beyond the bed to thefeeding mechanism. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 27, 11 represents acolumn, supported on a flange 12 whichis bolted to the fioorlj 13 is acasting slidably mounted on the column 11, and adjustable, vertically,on the same, using the nut 14: for this purpose. Rigidly secured to thetop of 18 is a dowel receptacle 15, the floor of. which is preferablyset at a slight angle from horizontal. The receptacle has no lower sideso that dowels placed therein 7 may roll by gravity on to the spurredand groovedrolls 16. These rolls are fixed on the shafts 17 and aresubject to continuous rotary movement by means of the pulleys 18, whichrevolve-in the direction as indicated by the arrows. In the view in Fig.27 the dowel marked as is being fed into the sec ondary feed mehanism,and as this particular dowel leaves the rolls the next dowel above,marked will fall on to the rolls and be fed forward, and this operationis continued until all dowels have fed out of the receptacle forthis,the primary feed mechanism. Secured to the end of the bed 1 is anextension to same, 19, on which is bolted a vertical bracketed member 20(see Figs. 21 and 22). On the upper end of this member (20) is avertically adjustable bearing 21, in which is journalled a shaft 22.Fixed to one end of this shaft (22) is a pulley 23 driven by anysuitable power and'designed to revolve continuously while the lathe isin operation. On the opposite end of the shaft- 22 is a wheel 2 1 withthe rim grooved .to loosely fit each particular size of dowelpassingthrough the feed mechanism. It will, of course, be understood that thiswheel (24) is interchangeable with other wheels and the one whose groovefits the dowel being operated on is selected.

Placed vertically in line with the wheel 24, and beneath it, is anothergrooved wheel 25, which is an idle wheel and is mounted on a stud 26secured to the side of the oscillat-ing lever 27. This lever (27) isfulcrumed over pin 28 fixed in the bracket 20. On the end of the lever27, opposite the fulcrum point, is an adjusting screw 29, with a head29', and in vertical alignment with a plunger 30, which reciprocatesthroughthe guide 31, and is actuated by the cam 32, the latter mountedon the shaft 10.

It will be observed, by referring to Fig. 22, that the wheel 24 isnormally slightly out of contact with the upper side of the in feedingdowel, but that the wheel is at a considerably greater distance belowthe bot-' tom side of the dowel. Now when the cam 32 turns, a very shortrise, 32', on the latter, forces the plunger upward and the telescopingpin 33, impinging on the screwv head 29, raises the lever 27 into aposition as shown by the dot-and-dash lines, Fig. 22. Also the groovedwheel 25 is raised into contact with the dowel and in the continuationof the upward movement of the plunger 30, which has an overtravel, thewheel 25 will have pressed the dowel into a strong contact with therevolving wheel 24,;which will start the dowel feeding forwardly. Thecam 32 will have raised the plunger more than just enough to bring thedowel into contact with the wheel 24, and this overtravel will be takenup by the telescoping of the pin 33 into the counterbored portion of theplunger, compressing the spring 34 while so doing. This excess travel ofthe plunger 30 allows of a strong contact of the revolving wheel 24 withthe dowels and does away with the difficulty of handling largequantities of the latter where many will vary slightly (either over orunder size) from the nominal size in diameter.

At 35 is seen a vertical arm pivoted on the shaft 36, which latteroscillates in the bearings 37. On the upper end of the arm 35 is anadjustable latch member 38 adapted to normally rest against the shoulder39, on the lever 27. Tension to bring this latch member strongly againstthis shoulder is provided by the helical spring 40. On the completion ofthe upward oscillation of the lever 27 the shoulder 39 will have beenraised sufficiently to have allowed the latch member to fall off theshoulder and land on the surface 41, where it temporarily remains, andso long as it remains in this position the dowel will continue to movethrough the feed rolls 24 and 25." It will be noticed that the surface41 is slightly angled from horizontal. This is for'the purpose ofproviding for slight differences in the diameters of the-dowels, for thesmallerthe dowel the higher will the lever 27 rise, and the fartheralong the surface 41, will the latch member move, and without thebeveled surface the latch member would not avail to hold the wheel inrigid contact with the dowel. Of course with a dowel larger than nominalsize the reverse holds true in regard to the le ver and arm,the arm willnot rise so high and the latch will not move in so far.

A stud 42, on the arm 35, carries a swiveling member 43, through a hole44 in which reciprocates a rod 45 with an adjusting nut 46 mounted onits outer end, which is threaded for a certain distance. This rod (45)which has attached thereto a spring 45 to bring it back to its normalposition in the swiyeling member 43, carries forward to the central partof the lathe and connects with the dowel-stop mechanism, about whichmore will be said later on in this specification. A. spring 47 assiststhe lever 27 to come to its lowermost position. Guiding tubes 48 looselysupport the in-feeding dowel.

Before passing from the consideration of this feed mechanism it might bewell to state, what is already evident, that the feed through thetwofeed wheels 24 and 25 is intermittent, while the feed from the dowelreceptacle is continuous in so far as the operating mechanism for thisparticular feed is concerned, the intermittency of thefeed from thereceptacle'being due solely to the fact that the out-going dowel iscontinually in contact. with the. dowel immediately preceding it andwhich is already in the secondary feed mechanism (wheels 24 and 25), andcan move no faster, and at such times only, as the latte-r mechanism isoperating. During the halting periods of the feed the rolls 16 will havea slipping contact with the dowel they are carrying.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated the spindle with its, contiguous partsassembled. 49 is the head-. stock base. 5O is a spindle mounted inbearings 51 and 52 properly supported in housing 53 and 54 respectively.55 is a pulley, receiving power from any suitable source and furnishingrotary movement for the spindle, to which, it is keyed.

On the forward end, or nose, of the spindle 50 is a chuck closer 56,operating within which is a collet, or as I shall hereinafter designateit, a chuck 57. A chuck tube 58, adapted to reciprocate within thespindle 50,

and provided with a sliding key, or as sometimes called a feather 59,which prevents the chuck tube turning within the spindle, is removablysecured at its inner end to the said chuck. Its'outer end extends beyondthe rearward end of the spindle. Secured to the housing 54 by the boltsis aflanged cylindrical member '61, and operating reciprocally withinwhich is a piston 6 2.having a feather 62 to prevent rotary movement 7within the cylinder. 7 In direct connection with and between this piston(62) and the chuck tube ('58) is a bearing 63, which, in this particularinstance, is utilized as a thrusting medium. Immediately forward,

of' the bearing 63 is a flanged collar 64, the

on the chuck tube 58. The outer race of the bearing is pressed firmlyinto a counterbored portion of the piston 62.

Extending out from the rearward side of the piston62 are projections 66'with faces ii of these projections cut to a true helix form.

Rearwardly of the piston 62 is a disc 67 with projections on its innerface, as seen at 68, similar to the projections 66 on the piston 62.Securely fastened to the flange 69, of the cylinder 61, by bolts 70, isa circular plate 71 which retains the disc 67 within saidv cylinder.Screwed and shouldered on to the rearward end of the spindle is acounterbored nut. 72, within the counterbore of which is seated theopposite end of the aforesaid mentioned spring 65.

An arm 7 3 (see Fig. 6 is secured to the disc'67 by screws 74. This armhas a hole 75 through which the bolt 76 makes con- 3 nection to the. rod77, which latter is reciprocated by the cam 7 8 in the side of which acam path is cut. This cam is fixedly secured to the shaft 10. As arm 7 3oscillates the disc 67 the helix surfaces on projections 68 impinge onthe helix surfaces on projections 66 and force the piston 62 forwardlyinto the cylinder 6l, toward the chuck end of the spindle, and as thepiston 62 is in direct connection with the chuck sleeve 58 and the chuck57, this action will open the latter positively,compressing the spring65 at the same time. In the return movement of the disc the spring 65will expand and act on the piston through the bearing 2 63, bringing thechuck 57 into the closer 56,

with the helices on the piston following up the helices on the disc,which latter are receding on the return movement of the disc,

until the chuck jaws firmly close on to the in-fed dowel.

faces on 66 and 68, (as seen in Fig. 3), and

this separation provides a space which allows of considerable latitudein the diameter of the chuck opening, which in turn provides for a goodfirm chuck closure over slightly varying diameters of succeeding dowels.It will be apparent, therefore, that by this arrangement I obtain apositive opening and a yielding and variable closing of the chuck, whichlatter accomplishment eliminates the difiiculty encountered insuccessfully chucking ordinary commercial dowels which are not furnishedto true nominal size but may and are very apt'to vary slightly in theirdiameters. It will also be seen that during the turning period, when thechuck is closed, there can be no thrusting action on the inainbearings51 and 52, due in any way to the opening and closing mechanism.

In Fig. 3 I also illustrate how I have provided for handling dowels ofdifferent nominal sizes. The largest size of which the lathe is adaptedto turn is one which will easily slide through the bore of the chucktube 58 For smaller sizes I insert within the chuck tube a bushing, suchas is seen at 7 9 and mount thereon centralizing collars 80, 81 and 82,placing them at intervals along the length of the tube. For holding thisbushing firmly in the chuck tube I usea collar 83, made in halves, witha hubbed portion entering the bore of the tube and a flanged partextending outwardly and abutting on the end of said tube. hen the nut 84is brought up solidly against the collar 82 it will hold the interposingmembers rigidly on the chuck tube 58. It will be noticed that thecollars 80, 81 and 82 are of no larger diameter than can easily enterthe chuck tube 58,- consequently in inserting a bushing in the tube itmay first be entered through the guide tubes 48 of the secondary feedmechanism.

The size of the bore of the chuck may also be reduced, toconform to thesize of any particular bushing, by inserting split sections 85, securingthe same to the chuck with screws 86. c s c If reference should be hadto Fig. 7 there will be seen my rough-turning and finish turningfixtures, and to Fig. 13 where their actuating mechanisms areillustrated. At 87 is shown a carriage, forming a part of therough-turning fixture, and designed to fit slidably the ways ofthe bedof the lathe. Attached to this member (87) is an apron 88, encompassingthe depth of the bed 1, and with a gib 89 and a gib screw 90 to insureaccurate alignment of the carriage on the top of the V of the ways ofsaid bed.-

Bosses 91 on this apron carry set screws'92 which abut on fixed bosses93 projecting from the side of the bed and adjust the fixture indifferent positions longitudinally on the bed. In Fig. 18, 94 is a drumwith a cam path 95 cut in the face of same and mounted on shaft 10. Aroll 96, mounted rotatably on a stud in the bar 97, operates in thispath and gives reciprocating movement to the said bar upon which latter,on the end opposite the roll 96, is cut a gear rack. In close relationto the drum 9 1, and projecting out from the inner side of'the bed 1, isa channel guide 97 for the bar 97 .The rack on the end o'fthe bar 97meshes with a gear 98 loosely mounted on a pin 99.

with rack cut onthe lower end of a ver tically reciprocating bar 101. Onthe upper end of the bar 101 is out another rack, at an angle of degreesfrom that cut on'the lower end and meshing with a gear 102 rotating overa pin 103, which is fixed in the carriage 87.

Hung over the pin 103, and adapted to oscillate in a small are about thesame, is a saddle 104 provided with ears 105, slotted,

and swinging between the upright sides of the carriage 87, and havingscrews 105 for the purpose oflocking the saddle in dlfferent angularpositions on said carriage. Operating on this saddle (104), andreciprocating between gibs thereon, is a slide member 106 with 'a rackcut on its central portion and meshing with the gear 102; V 7

'On the upper end of the slide member is a hub 107 in which oscillates aclamping pin 108. Abutting on the inner face of'this hub is another,somewhat similar, hub 109, fornr ing a part of the tool carrier 110.Projecting from both sides of thehub 107'a're ears 111, into which thescrews 112 are tapped. These screws provide adjusting means forthe'toolbers rigidly together, between the nut and the shoulder 115, andthe two gears will then revolve a one. Thus aconnection is establishedbetween the drum cam 94 and the slide 106. carriage 87 longitudinallyalong the bed of the lathe the nut 116 may first be slackened, whichwill have the effect of breaking'the rigid connection of the two gears98 and 100,and the carriage placed in proper locat1on, using the screws92 for this purpose. In movlng the carr age the gear 98 WLlil simplyroll along the rack on the bar 97,

but will, being disconnected, impart no movementto the gear 100. Theslide 106, also, may now be adjusted f it is required, as it isperfectly free and independent of the actuating parts. lVhen. alladjustments have been completed, tightening of the nut. 116

pin while tightening the nut.

In this fixture I have provided for all necessary movements andadjustments for the tool or cutting knife 118. oscillating the saddleabout the pin 103 I may advance or withdraw the cutting tool into or outof the work. Vertical adjustments may be made as hereinbefore stated. Arotatable Should it be desired to move the movement, to'provide foraxialadjustment of the cutter, is provided in the pin 108, and the wholefixture may move bodily along the bed. Attention is particularly. called.to the relation of the'cutting tool to the feed or the slide, in whichI'm'ayobtain either a true radial cut, an under cut or a r1d1ngcut,b-,ut

always 51 straight cut,of the cutting tool. 1 In Fig. 7 I" also show aside elevation of .myfinishing-tool fixture mountedon oneside of thebedof the lathe. This fixture isdesigned, primarily, to give a tangentialcut to the cutting tool. By swivellingthe-saddle sothat the direction ofthe feed of the cutting tool is other than at 90 degrees from thecutting tool, I obtain a combined shear, and slide cuttlng action, whichis'of very Superior 7 advantage. 011' straight turned work,

. 119 is a carriage, having a' depending hub 120. Slotted arms 121extend on'jboth sides of the carriage and provider be'aring and clampingmeans for the latter, adjustments along the ways of the bed being takencare of by the slots in the arms. A counterboredspace in the top of thecarriage (see Fig. 9), at 122, receives a turned hub 123 on the-underside of the saddle 12 1 and allows the saddle 39 V to beswivelled; Acollaredsleeve 125, the collar'portion being seated in arecess in thesaddle, extends downwardly through the "hub A slide 127, adapted to movelongitudinally axis of the work being turned, and by put ting'a'slightshear on the cutting-edge oi the V 120, and a nut operating onthe threaded in the saddle through the agencyoft" a rack 127 out on'oneof its inner faces,{carries the,

parts supporting the cutting tool. Extending .upwardlyfrom the slideis'a bored "hub 128 having an extended split ear129, whichf by means ofthe bolt 130 securely and adjustably. clamps the shank 131 of the swivelhead 132. Ears 132 made integralwith the swivel head carry 'adjustingscrews 133, the

.jends of the latter impinging'on the topof the slide 127iand serving toadjust the swivel head rotatably on its shank. A hubbed por-{ tion of132, 133, is bored, but not threaded,

to fit the shank of the tool holder 134:, which latter it firmlyclampsby means ol a'split ear 135 in combination withtheclamp bolt- 135.A nut 136 offers means for elevatin i or depressing the tool holder, theshank o l will bring all parts'back again into'functioning relation. Asquared head may be formed on the pin, at 117, to facilitate steadyingthe the latter being threaded for this'purpose.

Meshing with the ra ck' 127 is aj-gea'r 137' fixedly secured to thetopend oit'a shaft13-8; which oscillates in the sleeve 125. Fixed andshouldered on' the shatt'138 isa collar 139, and in close contact withthe latteir is a gear 140 loosely "mounted on the shaft.

On the opposite. side-of the gear (140) is.

another collar 141 andabuttin'gon' this latof the shaft oscillates in the bearing 1 13.

Again referring to Fig. 13, 144 is a drum with a cam path 145 outthereon, and in which the rotatable roll 146 reciprocates.

A bar 147, to which the roll 146 is attached over a stud 148, extendsforwardly to the gear 140,-the bar being guided, adjacent the drum, by achannel 147 milled in a projection on the side of the bed. Connection ismade to the gear (137) through a rack 149 out on the forward end of thebar (147).

The. slide adjusting feature of this finishing-tool fixture is somewhatsimilar to that which I have adopted on my roughingtool fixture. Byloosening the nut 142 the gear 140 may revolve freely on the shaft 138and adjustments may be made in the position of the slide in the saddleor the position of the carriage on thebed, without interference, onewith the other.

In Fig. 24 I show a cross-sectional view of the tailstock spindleoperating mecha- 4 nism. 150 represents a cam fixedly mounted on theshaft 10. Guided in a channel 151 on the bed (1) is a bar 152 onwhich ismounted a roll 153 rotating over a stud 154, the latter secured to saidbar. (152). On the opposite end of the bar (152) is cut a rack 155 whichactuates a gear 156. 157 represents the base of the tailstock and 157the outer spindle-housing. 158 is a cleat and 159 the bolts by which thetailstock base is secured to the bed of the lathe. 160 is the tailstockspindle slidably mounted in the bushing 161 which is firmly secured inthe bore of the housing 157 A rack 162 is fixed in a milled slot in theside of the spindle (160), the outer side extending beyond the peripheryof the spindle and serving as a key reciprocating in a key-way 162 outin the bore of the bushing 161, and serving to prevent rotatablemovement of the spindle 160. This rack (162) meshes with a gear 163which is slidably mounted on a vertical shaft 164 and driven by thelatter through a feather 165. Extending downwardly from the base of thetailstock is a bracket 166 having on its lower end a bearing 167, thelatter supporting the lower end of the shaft 164. To this latter shaft(164) the gear 156 is fixedly secured. The gear 163 is extended upwardlyand terminates in a knob to serve as a handle to facilitate thewithdrawal of the gear from its seat in the housing. A resilientlocking-pin 163 is provided to resist any tendency of the gear to risefrom its seat while under strain.

On the inner end of the spindle (160) may be socketed a-drill 168, or acentering tool; and clamped over the spindle is a fixture 169adapted tocarry tenoning or other special cutting tools. A collar 170 serves as aback stop for the spindle.

The forward movement of the tailstock spindle (160) (or when thetailstock tools are operating on the material) is positive and directfrom the cam which actuates same, but the return movement of the spindleis yielding and is accomplished by the action of the spring 171, one end.of which may be attached to the rack bar 152 and the other to anyconvenient point on the lathe bed.

As itmay be necessary at times to move the tailstock along the bed, Iprovide means tion on the rack 155,-provision being made i for this bycutting the rack of sufiicient length to cover all requirements.

Referring to Figs. 19 and 20, which represent the cutting-oif toolassembly, 172 .is a cam fixed on the shaft 10. 173 is a reciprocatingplunger with a stud 174 riveted to its side and a roll 176 adapted torevolve over the stud. This roll contacts with the periphery of the cam.A slot 177m the plunger encompasses the shaft and aids in resisting thethrusting action of the roll on the cam. The cam forces the tool intothe work and the spring 173 returns it to its lowermost position. 178 isthe main guide and is secured to the shaft 179 which is adjustablysecured in the depending hubbed portions of the headstock, 180 and 181.A cutter 182 is secured to the top of the plunger 173.

Reverting to a consideration of the dowel stop mechanism hereinbeforebriefly referred to, and observing Figs. 15, 16, 17 and'18, 183 is thedowel. stop finger, fixed on a vertically positioned shaft 184 whichoscillates in the bearings 185 and 186 which form a part of a member187. This member (187 is secured to a shaft 188 adjustably secured inthe housings 157 and 189 of the tailstock.

The function of the arm 35 has hereinbefore been stated, but to moreclearly connect the working of the dowel stop with this arm, I willrepeat that the principal duty of the latter is to hold the lever 27, onwhich is mounted the idle wheel 25, in feeding position. This positionis illustrated in Fig.

22 in dot-and-dash lines. To stop the feed- 3 ing operation the arm 35must be pulled from beneath the angled seat on the lever 27. 'Toaccomplish this is the function of the dowel stop finger 183, and itsconnecting parts, and the agent by which it is executed is the dowelitself. As stated before, the 7 stop 183 is subject to a slightoscillation,-- receding until the back of the stop. strikes the abutment189. When the in-feeding dowel contacts with the dowel stop finger itturns the shaft 184, upon which, lower down is secured the arm 190,which is in direct connection with the swivelling member 43, through therod 45, and when the'nut 46 has reached and moved the adjacent end ofthe swivelling member sufficiently it Wlll In Fig. 16 the fulllines showthe dowel stop parts in their lowest position. This will allow the drillor other cutting tools mount ed on the tailstock spindle to have a clearpassage over the stop, when they are operating on the work. To raise thestop mechanism into operating position the lowerend of the shaft 184 isforked, and within the forks a roll 191 is pinned, the roll traversing acam 192 adjustably secured to the shaftlO.

The stop mechanism may be adjusted in and out from the tailstock bymoving the shaft 188 and is designed to fulfill the re quirements of astop for any length of finished turnings within the capacity of thelathe.

' In operation, the clutch 7 being thrown out of action, I first push adowel, manually, from the dowel receptacle through the secondary feedrolls andup to the forward end of the chuck, the former being apart andthe latter open. The clutch is then thrown into operating positionstarting rotation of the cam shaft 10. When the cam 32 elevates theidling grooved wheel so that the dowel is forced upwardly against thecontinuously revolving grooved wheel 24 the dowel begins.

to feed forwardly, and the arm will have passed under the lever27,holding, temporarily, the wheel 25 in feeding position.

As it continues its passage through the chuck 57 the dowel will abut onthe stop finger 183, which will retract slightly and in so doing drawthe rod and the arm 35 forwardly. This will have the effect of trippingthe arm out'from under the lever 27, allowing the wheels to separate andthus stop, temporarily, further feeding of the dowel. At this stage thechuck operating cam 78, working in conjunction with the other chuckoperating parts, willallow the chuck to close over the dowel firmly, and

the drum cam 94 will start the rough .turning fixture into action and onthe completion of the first turning operation the finish turn-7 ing toolmechanism, operated by the cam 144 performs its duty, meanwhile duringboth turning operations thecam 150 actuates the drill or otherend-cutting tool positioned in the tailstock spindle 160. To completethe sequence of operations the cam 172 raises the cuttingoff tool intocontact with the attached end of the finished turned and drilled handle,severing it from the remainder of the dowel,

and finally, thechuck operating cam starts I the mechanism which willopent'he chuck,

and thus will have been completed one revolution of the cam shaft 10,vor as .I term'it one feed cycle.

In turning, short handles from a long dowelthereis always a butteendleft in the chuck, too short for a handle. If the feed was not flexible,or in other words was of a definite'andconstant lengh of time'for each 3feed cycle, account would have to be taken of this butt end,for'added tothis would also bethe loss, on the forward end of the dowel 7 following,of a piece equal in length to the difference between the length of thebutt-end and that of the handlebeing turned.

In the construction of my lathe I have taken care of this difficulty.The butt-end is necessarily a loss, but from theentering end of eachsucceeding dowel nothing is taken off buta full length handle. Toaccomplish this object a mechanism capable of supplying a variablelength of feed. in any feed cycle is absolutely essential, although itmay not be necessary to utilize it except on the last out in each dowel.When the feed rolls are locked on a 'dowel they continue to feed untilthe forward end strikes the stop,then they trip. The extreme length offeed possible is calculated and allowed on the cam lay-.

out to include the length of the longest dowel the lathe is capable ofturning, plus a rea-. sonable length for the butt-end. V

For the purpose of illustration, suppose the required length of thefinished handles to be 6 inches and the length of the dowel inches. Thiswould make eight handles, leaving, a butt-end in ,the chuck of twoinches,which latter would be a loss. Now

if the machine had a constant or invariable .feed of 6' inchesat'each'feed cycle, there would also be a loss of 4 inches on theforward end of the succeeding dowel, but, with a variable feed such as Iemploy on my lathe the 4 inches would not be a loss as the infeedingdowel would continue to the stop 183, having meanwhile pushed the 2.inch butt-end from the chuck, and having fed eight inches instead of theregular feed of 6 inches. It will bev well to state that the dowels aremadeof a length which will in-. sure of but a very, short butt-end beingwasted.

Havingthus described invention, what I claim is 1. In a wood-turninglathe, the combina- 7 tion, with a bed; supporting legs; a head-' stock;a. hollow, chuck-carrying spindle mountedin bearings in said h'eadstockand means whereby said spindle may be rotated;

with a chuck mounted on the nose of said. spindle; of means forintermittently and positively opening the jaws of said chuck; means forintermittently and yieldingly closing the jaws of said chuck; thecooperation of said positive and yielding means automatically providingfor a closure of said jaws on said chuck firmly on to successive dowels,of slightly varying diameters, entering said chuck throu h said spindle,substantially as describe".

2. In a wood-turnin lathe, the combination, with a bed mem er; aheadstock; a tailstock; a hollow spindle rotatably mounted in hearingson said headstock; and a chuck mounted on the nose of said spindle;

, of operable means for opening the jaws of said chuck positivel';operable means for closing the jaws of said chuck yieldingly;continuously revolving grooved rolls adapted to receive, support andmove dowels, singly, from a dowel receptacle, and constituting a primarydowel feed mechanism; a contmuously revolving grooved wheel; an idle,

grooved wheel; means for :intermittently bringing both of said groovedwheels into contact with an interposing dowel, and constituting asecondary dowel feed mechanism; means for aligning the primaryfeed-rolls to accurately deliver dowels into the secondary feed wheels;means for guiding said dowels from the secondary feed wheels into andthrough said spindle and said chuck, substantially as described.

3. In a wood-turning lathe, the combination, with a bed; a headstock; atailstock, and a hollow rotatable chuck carrying spindle; of acontinuously revolving grooved feed wheel; an idle grooved feed wheel;means for intermittently and yieldingly moving said idle grooved teedwheel so as to encompass and force an interposing dowel into strongfrictional contact with said con tinuously revolving wheel; means forbringing the said idle grooved feed wheel and the said continuouslyrevolving grooved feed wheel into strong frictional contact withsuccessive, interposing dowels, of slightly varying diameters; lockingmeans for said idle grooved teed wheel when in closest relation to saidcontinuously revolving grooved feed wheel; means for unlocking said idlegrooved teed wheel from contact with said dowel; and means for varyingthe duration of movement of said dowel in any desired teed cycle of thelathe, substantially as described.

4:. In a wood-turning lathe, the combination, with a bed; a headstock; atailstock; a hollow, rotatable, headstock spindle, and a chuck mountedon the nose of said spindle,

of means for automatically, intermittently:

and positively opening the jaws of said chuck; means for yieldinglyclosing the jaws of said chuck controlled by said automatic saidtool-holder means for adnstin said tool in said holder whereby a radialcut, an under cut or a ridingrcut for said tool my be obtained;rotatable means: for said holder to provide for adjusting said toolaxially in relation to the work being turned;

and means whereby said carriage may be placed in differentpositionsalong the bed' of the lathe without altering, diametrically,the relation of the tool to the work, substantially as described.

5. In a wood-turning lathe, the combina-; tion, with a bed; a headstock;a tailstock; a hollow, rotatable chuck-carrying spindle, of operablemeans mounted on said spindle for opening the jaws of a chuck,positively; operable means for closing the jaws of said chuckyieldingly; a primary dowel feed,

consisting oi continuously revolving grooved rolls, a receptacle fordowels an means for gravitatmg said dowels on to the dowel feed,consisting of a continuously re volving grooved wheel, adjustablevertically, an idle grooved wheel adapted to impinge on ano yieldinglyforce an interposing dowel into strong frictional contact with saidcontinuously revolving grooved vtops of said grooved rolls; a secondarywheel; means for actuating said primary and said secondary dowel feeds;means for aligning said primary dowel feed with said secondary dowelfeed whereby an unbroken line of dowels from the former feed mechanismmay be accurately guided to the latter feed mechanism; a roug turningtool fiX- ture; a rouglrturning tool; means for feeding saidrough-turning tool in a straight line, for approximately radial, cuttingac-' tion; a finish-turning tool fixture; a finishturning tool; meansfor actuating said finish-turning tool so as to procure'an approximatetangential action or" the cutting tool; means for procuring a combinedshearing and sliding action for the cutting tool; and means foradjustablypositioning said rough-turning and said finish-turningfixturesalong the bed of the lathe, substantially as described. r

6. In a wood-turning lathe, the combination, with a bed; a headstock; atailstock; a hollow headstock spindle; a chuck mounted on said spindle,of a frictional feed mechanism, consisting of a continuously revolvinggrooved wheel, adapted to cont-act with, and on the top side of, anin-feeding dowel, an intermittently operating idle grooved wheel,positioned on the opposite.

side of the said ill-feeding dowel, and at a spaced distance from same,means for bringing both of said wheels into strong frictional contactwith the interposing, in-feeding dowel, means to obtain properfrictional contact of the wheelswith successive i i-feeding dowels wherethe latter are of slightly varying diameters; means for looking thefeeding mechanism when in operative position; means for unlocking thefeeding mechanism when in operative position; a dowel feed stop; meansfor adjusting the said dowel feed stop longitudinally of the bed; meansfor moving the dowel stop into and out of operative position; actuatingmeans for said feeding mechanism; a roughturning, radial cutting toolfixture; a finish-turning, tangential cutting'tool fixture; arough-turning tool; a finish-turning tool; means for actuating saidrough-turning and said finish-turning tools; a tailstock spindle; meansprovided on said tailstock spindle for carrying end-cutting and specialtools; means for actuating said tailstock spindle axially; meansfor'ri'gidly positioning said t-ailstock along the bed of the lathe;means for disconnecting the actuating'means for'said' tail'stock spindlewhile making adjustments to the latter; a cuttingofl tool, adapted toreciprocate in a guide adjustably secured to the said headstock; meansto actuate said cutting-off tool; a single cam shaft for all actuatingcams, and means for actuating said cam shaft, substantially asdescribed.

FRANK H. MoLAIN.

